Terry Dunn shares how 2016 is going to be a pivotal year for our hobby in his latest Tested.com article. The current situation is still very fluid as regulations are still being hashed out. The article discusses the community-based organization model, altitude limits, trends in retail, and how some proposed regulations “… potentially scares away people interested in the hobby.” As Dunn suggests, be proactive by monitoring proposed legislation and contact your elected representatives. The AMA is actively involved in the regulation process and may officially mobilize membership in a Congressional letter writing campaign soon.
Read the Tested.com article at https://www.tested.com/tech/566982-rc-flying-and-law-2016/
Tested.com photo and caption: EDUCATING NEW PILOTS IS VITAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE HOBBY. IT IS A BURDEN BEST HANDLED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
Can we get some feedback on AMA’s progress in dealing with several of the issues in Terry’s article; specifically on the 400′ ceiling and the proposed requirement for flyers to receive PERMISSION from an airport before they can fly, rather than just being required to NOTIFY the airport before flying?
We have pushed through an amendment for the 400-foot altitude limitation in the draft proposed Senate bill. The 400-foot limit initially applied to all modelers, but we have made good progress in securing an exemption for AMA members after engaging the leadership of the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee.
We are still working on revising the airport notification language to make it more practical for hobbyists.
The bill is moving along, but we are still early in this process as more amendments and revisions will be created. The bill will then go to a vote and then off to another committee for another round of revisions, amendments, and votes. As more develops, we will provide you with greater details.
Quote from this story,
“According to Cliff Whitney, owner of Atlanta Hobby,the small hobby shop group has recorded a 70% reduction in RC aircraft sales since the FAA announced their registration policy.”
This is an ongoing disaster for our hobby and small hobby shop owners. I was getting ready to buy another 3.8M sailplane but now I am in waiting mode. I don’t even want to fly any of my sailplanes with the chance of suspension of my Commercial Airmans certificate, for flying above 400′.
Chad keeps saying ,”We promote 400 feet as a ceiling to the general public. Hobbyists who fly in compliance with Section 336, are permitted to fly above 400 feet as long as they abide by the safety code of an organization like the AMA.”
Well Chad, show me that in writing from the FAA.. Please.
AMA members who abide by the AMA Safety Code, which permits flights above 400′ under appropriate circumstances, and are protected by the Special Rule for Model Aircraft under the 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act. You can read Section 336 at http://www.modelaircraft.org/gov.
Checking the box on the federal registration webpage signifies an understanding of the 400′ guideline. This is an important safety principle and is the same guideline established in AC 91-57 published in 1981. However, according to the FAA, the 400′ limit is primarily intended for those operating outside of AMA’s safety program. The certificate you printed after registering lists the 400′ ceiling height as a safety guideline, not a rule or law. Again this is a good general guideline for most modelers, but it is important to note it does not say you “MUST” stay under 400′. You can read about FAA’s mandatory words at https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/plain_language/articles/mandatory/
After reviewing the Senate and House FAA Reauthorization act bills currently being reviewed in Congress, the Special Rule will be rescinded and replaced by powers that will be in the hands of the FAA and hopefully the AMA to make rules to keep airspace safe. Very troubling is language in the Senate version, for builder fliers, that makes it unlawful to fly a UAS that is homebuilt, in the NAS. It was very lightly touched on in the vid. 400′ is important but if the builder flier rule sticks you’ll have to buy your sailplane from an FAA approved manufacturer. I assume you’ll have to have an A&P license to modify it or repair it.
Homebuilt/scratchbuilt is one of the things most important to me about this hobby…I’ve been doing this for years…I will not stop because a senate bill tells me its unlawful. Please, arrest me and throw the book at me because I WILL NOT STOP. So, for their sake, they better get this straight.
I agree, i enjoy the building almost as much as the flying. As for the 400 ft. rule, beginners like me are going to crash a lot of aircraft because they are mandated to fly close to the ground with very little margin for error. I just crashed mine, but now I am not sure i even want to spend the time to repair the aircraft for flight.
THIS ONLY APPLIES TO MODEL AIRCRAFT/DRONES FLOWN FOR COMMERCIAL OR PUBLIC PURPOSES!
Chad,
Just to let you know, in Senate Bill 2658, the Special Rule for Model Aircraft (section 336) is repealed. So Section 336 of the 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act will no longer protect Model Aircraft flyers. That protection is gone.
From the Bill S2658
(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR MODEL AIRCRAFT.—
13 Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform
14 Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) and the item
15 relating to that section in the table of contents
16 under section 1(b) of that Act (126 Stat. 13) are re
17 pealed.
THE 2012 LAW IS NOT REPEALED UNTIL THE SENATE BILL IS ACTUALLY PASSED AND IN EFFECT!
THE ONLY APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE MODEL ROCKETS AND BALLOONS!
YOUR INFORMATION REGARDING THE 400′ LIMITATION IS WRONG AND WILL GET MODELERS INTO TROUBLE!!
Inventors have built model aircraft for years to develop their own inventions. Even very early in aviation history, experimenters such as the Wright Brothers first tried their ideas in flying models.
America needs the activity of modelers who design and build their own flying models. These models teach a rigorous knowledge of aviation and provide the opportunity to invent new aviation products and technologies.
Please write to the Senate to support America’s modelers, experimenters, and inventors.
I hold a FAA Airframe and Power Plant licence, does that mean I can build my own planes. I also hold a General Radio Teliphone licence w/Radar indorsement and aTech class Ham licence, I gues I can build my plane and radio! How much more do we have to have to fly like I have been doing for 45 years. Give me a break. P. S. I know Inhofe to, that help?
I just got back into the hobby after 20 years, my Bird of Time glider is designed to come off the high-start at over 500 feet, the way the registration is worded I’m going to be in violation. Time for a MASS DEMONSTRATION they can’t arrest the whole modelling population! AM SICK & TIRED OF BEING PUNISHED FOR IDIOTS CRIMES! Time for FAA to get their head out of their ASS! This country was founded by REBELS against TRYANNY. A 20 foot glider is going on the building board!
David, you are free to fly above the 400ft limit that is mentioned in the FAA ruling as long as you are following the AMA safety code. If you are flying within 3 miles of an airport, and are flying at altitudes above 400ft, you should then coordinated with the airport for the safety of manned aircraft.
I have no idea that this hobby involves so much laws in it! I just want to have a rather carefree hobby and after reading this it felt like having an RC device requires a lot of responsibility. Anyhow, I found an article on how to safely utilize the capabilities of your RC plane here: https://mydronelab.com/blog/flying-rc-planes.html